Weekly Update: Quakes prepare for Montreal Impact, Real Salt Lake

The Earthquakes return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 17 against the Montreal Impact in CONCACAF Champions League Group 5 play. Kickoff is 7 p.m. PT at Buck Shaw Stadium. San Jose’s next MLS match comes on Saturday, Sept. 21 against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. Kickoff for that game is 6 p.m. PT on Comcast SportsNet California, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF.

San Jose’s Record in September
The Quakes are 32-23-11 all-time in September in MLS play.

Last Game

Earthquakes 0, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0; Sept. 14, 2013; Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
The Earthquakes extended their home-unbeaten streak to 14 games with a 0-0 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in front of a sold out crowd at Buck Shaw Stadium. The clean sheet was the club’s sixth of the season and third in their last five games. For Jon Busch, the shutout was his 73rd in 13 seasons, tying him with current New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis for No. 5 in MLS history. The Earthquakes pressed the action for most of the evening, out-shooting their guests 22-14. They had several golden chances to score, including a close-range blast from Clarence Goodson in the 19th minute that darted high over the crossbar. In the second half, Chris Wondolowski nearly opened the scoring with a flick off a Sam Cronin free kick, but Whitecaps FC goalkeeper David Ousted positioned himself perfectly to snare the shot.

Montreal Impact Scouting Report
The Montreal Impact (13-8-6, 45 pts.) enter Tuesday’s match second in the CONCACAF Champions League Group 5 standings with three points and a 1-1-0 record. Their results in CCL play include a 1-0 win against the Earthquakes at Saputo Stadium on Aug. 7 and a 1-0 loss against CD Heredia at Cemento Progreso Stadium on Aug. 21.

Last Game vs. Montreal Impact

Earthquakes 0, Montreal Impact 1; Aug. 7, 2013; Saputo Stadium in Montreal, Quebec
The Earthquakes fell 1-0 in their CONCACAF Champions League debut against the Montreal Impact at Saputo Stadium. Despite an advantage in possession and shots, the Earthquakes were unable to break through against their hosts. After a missed penalty kick in the 10th minute, San Jose conceded the game’s only goal on a set piece in the 16th minute. Freshly minted Impact Designated Player Hernan Bernardello lofted a ball toward the back post from 40 yards out, finding Hassoun Camara open for a glancing header. The Earthquakes had several quality looks at goal in the second half, including a header from Sam Garza that sailed inches wide. Garza had another look midway through the second half thanks to a well-placed pass from winger Jaime Alas, but the second-year midfielder misfired. Alan Gordon had a look at the ball from Garza, but Montreal was able to clear before the target man could get around on a shot.

History of the Quakes – Montreal Impact Rivalry
The Earthquakes played the Montreal Impact for the first time in club history on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012 at Saputo Stadium in Montreal with the hosts winning 3-1. The second meeting between the two teams ended in a 2-2 draw at Buck Shaw Stadium on May 4, 2013 … The two teams met in 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League Group 5 play with the Impact taking the first leg 1-0 at Saputo Stadium on Aug. 7, 2013.

Earthquakes-Montreal Impact Connections
Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas and Impact midfielder Jeb Brovsky were teammates on Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2011 … Earthquakes defender Justin Morrow and Brovsky are both Notre Dame alumni, and played together for the Fighting Irish from 2007-09 … Earthquakes midfielder Ramiro Corrales beat Impact midfielder Justin Mapp in 2003 MLS Cup when Mapp was a member of the Chicago Fire … Earthquakes midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy and Impact midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic were teammates on the New York Red Bulls in 2010 … Earthquakes assistant coach Mark Watson, Earthquakes defender Nana Attakora, Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier have all represented Canada at the international level … Earthquakes forward Mike Fucito played with Impact goalkeeper Troy Perkins for the Portland Timbers in 2012.

Earthquakes Leaders vs. Montreal Impact (MLS games only)
Forward Chris Wondolowski has one goal and two assists in two appearances … Fellow forward Adam Jahn and midfielder Sam Cronin have each recorded one goal, respectively … Goalkeeper Jon Busch is 0-1-1.

Montreal Impact Leaders vs. San Jose (MLS games only)
Midfielder Justin Mapp recorded a brace against the Quakes in a 2-2 draw on May, 4 … Mapp also has 15 assists in 16 appearances … Forward Marco di Vaio and midfielder Patrice Bernier each have one goal in one appearance … Bernier also has one assist along with midfielder Felipe Martins … Goalkeeper Troy Perkins is 2-2-4 in eight appearances against San Jose in his career.

Earthquakes 0, Real Salt Lake 3; June 1, 2013; Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah
The Earthquakes lost 3-0 on the road to Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL scored three first-half goals to take control of the match and the Earthquakes could not get back in the game in the second half. Real Salt Lake jumped on the board first behind a goal from Javier Morales. Robbie Findley received the ball on the right wing from Morales and broke into the box. After making some space for himself, he hit a low shot that was saved by Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch. Morales pounced on the rebound and put it into the back of the net for a 1-0 RSL advantage. Ned Grabavoy put RSL up 2-0 with a blast from inside the box 33 minutes into the game. Morales got open on the left wing, and his cross found Grabavoy, who finished into the upper corner. Five minutes later, Findley got a goal of his own. After a Joao Plata cross was cleared directly to Findley, he curled a right-footed shot inside the far post for a 3-0 advantage. The Quakes had a handful of good chances in the second half, but RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando was up to the task. He stopped a Marvin Chavez drive early in the half, before denying Chris Wondolowski and Steven Lenhart’s close-range efforts.

History of the Quakes-Real Salt Lake Rivalry
Real Salt Lake joined MLS as an expansion side prior to the 2005 campaign … The two teams played to a 2-2 draw in their first-ever meeting on April 30, 2005, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, with Alejandro Moreno providing a late equalizer for San Jose … After going 2-0-2 over their first four MLS regular-season meetings, the Quakes dropped their first league tilt to RSL, 3-1, on May 31, 2008, at Rice-Eccles … The Quakes suffered two straight home defeats in league play in shutout fashion in back-to-back season openers in 2010 (3-0) and 2011 (1-0) … On March 19 the Quakes and RSL kicked off the 2011 season at Buck Shaw Stadium in a match later dubbed The Great Deluge as RSL took a 1-0 decision in a driving rainstorm through a 64th-minute Kyle Beckerman strike from 25 yards out that glanced off the left post and went in … That game marked Simon Dawkins’ MLS debut for the Quakes as a 66th-minute substitute … Real Salt Lake swept the 2011 season series with a 4-0 triumph in Utah on July 23 … The Quakes win against RSL on April 21, 2012 snapped a six-game winless streak in all competitions, including an 0-3-2 mark in the five prior MLS regular-season match-ups, and a loss via penalty-kick shootout in a 2010 US Open Cup play-in contest at Buck Shaw Stadium … The Quakes again beat RSL on June 23, 2012 by a 2-1 scoreline behind late goals from Alan Gordon and Chris Wondolowski for their first-ever win at RSL’s Rio Tinto Stadium … RSL was the last Quakes opponent to play a regular-season match at Spartan Stadium, earning a 2-2 tie on Oct. 8, 2005 … San Jose was 3-0-0 against RSL in 2012, outscoring them 9-2 in the process … The Earthquakes dropped their first two games of 2013 against RSL, losing 2-0 on March 3 at Buck Shaw Stadium and 3-0 on June 1 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Earthquakes – Real Salt Lake Connections
Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski and RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando have played together twice for the U.S. Men’s National Team, most recently featuring in head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s starting lineup earlier this year on Jan. 25 for a 1-0 win over Panama in Panama City … On May 25, 2012, Wondolowski, Rimando, and RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman were all named to Klinsmann’s final 23 man roster for matches against Scotland, Brazil, Canada, and 2014 World Cup Qualifiers against Antigua & Barbuda and Guatemala … RSL midfielder Ned Grabavoy appeared in 24 games for San Jose in 2008 … Grabavoy was a teammate of Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch with the Columbus Crew in 2006 … Saunders played for the Earthquakes in 2003 … Grabavoy played with Quakes forward Alan Gordon for the LA Galaxy from 2004-06 … Busch also played alongside RSL defender Chris Wingert with the Crew in 2004-05 … Wingert (St. John’s) and Quakes defender Jason Hernandez (Seton Hall) played against each other in the BIG EAST Conference from 2001-03 … Second-year Real Salt Lake assistant coach C.J. Brown is a Hayward, Calif., native who starred in the South Bay in his college playing days at San Jose State (1993-96) prior to a 13-year MLS career, all with the Chicago Fire … Earthquakes forward Alan Gordon (2002-03), defender Colin Mitchell (2008-11) and RSL forward Robbie Findley (2003-06) attended Oregon State … Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski and defender Justin Morrow suited up alongside RSL defender Tony Beltran in the USMNT’s 0-0 draw against Canada on Jan. 29 at Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium … Earthquakes defender Tommy Muller and RSL goalkeeper Jeff Attinella are both from the state of Florida … RSL defender Aaron Maund (2008-11) and Quakes defender Justin Morrow (2006-09) played together at the University of Notre Dame … Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham (2008-10) and RSL goalkeeper Josh Saunders (2001-02) both attended Cal … RSL midfielder Khari Stephenson played for the Quakes from 2010-12, appearing in 69 games and scoring eight goals for San Jose.

Earthquakes Leaders vs. Real Salt Lake
Chris Wondolowski has five goals and one assist in 10 appearances … Alan Gordon has three goals and four assists in 12 appearances … Shea Salinas has two assists in nine appearances … Steven Lenhart has one goal and one assist in eight appearances … Goalkeeper Jon Busch is 6-4-4 with six shutouts in 14 games.

Real Salt Lake Leaders vs. San Jose
Javier Morales has six goals and six assists in 12 appearances … Kyle Beckerman has three goals and six assists in 24 appearances … Alvaro Saborio has four goals and one assist in nine appearances … Robbie Findley has three goals and three assists in eight appearances … Goalkeeper Nick Rimando is 12-7-7 with nine shutouts in 26 games.

Milestone Alert
The Earthquakes are one win away from their 200th in club history … Midfielder Shea Salinas is two assists away from tying Ian Russell for No. 10 on the club’s career list … Forward Chris Wondolowski (130) is two appearances away from tying John Doyle (132) for No. 8 on the club’s all-time games list … Goalkeeper Jon Busch is one shutout away from surpassing Matt Reis for No. 5 on the MLS all-time list; both have 73.

CONCACAF Champions League Schedule
The Earthquakes will play four CONCACAF Champions League matches in group play after qualifying for the tournament by virtue of their Supporters’ Shield win in 2012. The schedule is as follows:

Earthquakes Extend Home Unbeaten Streak to 14
San Jose’s scoreless draw against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday extended the Quakes’ home-unbeaten streak to 14 games. San Jose hasn’t lost at home since March 3, 2013, in a 2-0 result against Real Salt Lake to open the 2013 season. They are 9-0-5 since the loss, including a 6-0-1 slate under interim head coach Mark Watson.

Keeping it Clean
The Earthquakes recorded their sixth shutout of the year with a scoreless draw against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday. The clean sheet was San Jose’s third in five games.

Wondolowski Moves Past Dayak for Career Mark
Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski made his 130th career appearance in San Jose on Saturday, moving him past club Hall of Famer Troy Dayak for No. 9 on the Earthquakes’ all-time games list. Wondolowski is now two games behind current Quakes general manager John Doyle for No. 8 on that list.

Iron Man
The Earthquakes have one player that has played every minute of all 29 matches this season, Jon Busch. Sam Cronin is the only other player on the squad to start all 29 matches; he has logged 2,321 minutes in the process.

Lenhart, Gordon Moving Up All-Time Goals List
Steven Lenhart and Alan Gordon haven’t been with the Earthquakes for long, but they’ve both made significant impacts during their brief stints in San Jose. Alan Gordon is No. 8 all-time with 18 goals in 44 games. Meanwhile, Lenhart is tied with Ryan Johnson for No. 9 on the list with 17 goals in 57 games. Jeff Baicher is No. 7 on the list with 20 goals while Chis Wondolowski tops everyone with 72 goals in 130 games.

T-Mobile 4G Power Zone Back for 2013
The Earthquakes have teamed with T-Mobile for the second year in a row to create the “T-Mobile 4G Power Zone” at all home games for the 2013 season. The promotion will give fans the opportunity to purchase great seats for only $17 – a discount of $10 off the day-of-game price, the most affordable Earthquakes tickets available to the public. Through the agreement, T-Mobile has rebranded the Corner Flag Section 107 at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara as the “T-Mobile 4G Power Zone.” For more information, visit www.sjearthquakes.com/tickets.

Quakes President Dave Kaval’s Office Hours
Earthquakes President Dave Kaval’s office hours will continue in 2013. Fans can drop by his office at 451 El Camino Real, Suite 201 in Santa Clara, Calif., on Tuesdays between 3 and 5 p.m. PT. Participants will be seen on a first come, first served basis. Be sure to read his blog, Kaval’s Kickoff, exclusively at www.sjearthquakes.com, and follow him on Twitter at @QuakesPrez.

Wells Fargo Goals for Education
Wells Fargo has again pledged to donate $250 for each goal the Earthquakes score in 2013 through the Goals for Education program. The club has raised $7,250 so far this season thanks to 29 goals. The Earthquakes raised $18,000 in 2012 after scoring a club record 72 goals.

ACADEMY NOTES

U-14s Continue to Roll with 6-0 Win
The Earthquakes’ U-14 Academy squad continued its hot start to the season with a 6-0 rout of Marin FC Alliance in San Jose on Saturday. Kaya Fabbretti notched a first-half hat trick and finished the game with four goals, upping his season haul to five in two games. Edwin Lara and Ivan Valencia capped the scoring to improve the U-14s to 2-0-0.

U-18s Drop Two
The Earthquakes’ U-18 Academy squad lost both a pair of close games over the weekend. They opened with a 3-2 loss against Crossfire Premier and then fell 2-1 against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday. The U-18s will be back in action next weekend to host Arsenal FC and Real SoCal on Saturday and Sunday.